A Dublin city-centre businessman has been remanded on bail for sentence by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for handling stolen mobile-phone accessories. James Booth, who runs an office supply company at Hardwicke Street and was formerly chairman of the Dublin Inner City Business Association, pleaded guilty to having the stolen property at his premises between February 26th and March 1st, 1999.
Booth (58), of Kiltealy House, Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, also pleaded guilty to having a fivechamber revolver, a crossbow and crossbow bolts without certificates under the Firearms Acts at his home on March 2nd, 1999. He has no previous convictions.
Judge Elizabeth Dunne remanded him on continuing bail for sentence on December 5th next and noted that Booth was to hand over a full statement to gardai in relation to their inquiries before that as well as offering £3,000 voluntarily for use at the court's pleasure.
Det Garda Kevin Stratford told Mr Paul Burns, prosecuting, that gardai found a plastic bag with stolen mobile-phone accessories in a search of the Hardwicke Street premises on March 1st, 1999.
The property was valued at £589 and had been stolen from Person To Person's warehouse.
Det Garda Stratford said Booth made no admissions about the property and gave no explanation for it. An employee made a statement implicating Booth. The weapons were found in a search of Booth's house on March 2nd, 1999.
He was arrested in relation to these matters on March 9th and said the gun had been his father's who passed it on to him as a keepsake.
Det Garda Stratford told Mr Burns it had been made originally in the 1890s but had been modified since. The crossbow had missing strings while the bolts were still in their packing.
The detective agreed with Mr Donagh McDonagh SC, defending, that the mobile-phone accessories were obsolete. Gardai previously had removed a large number of mobile phones from Booth's city-centre premises, but they were all found be legitimate.
He also agreed that Booth had been in business in the city centre for some 30 years and was not, as counsel described it, "the brightest star in the firmament".
Counsel appealed for leniency and said Booth's real penalty was the loss of his name and reputation among his business peers. He also served as a board member of an adult education group.
Mr McDonagh said Booth's involvement in these crimes was one of stupidity rather than of major culpability. He offered £3,000 to the court for use as the court wished.